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Patrick Vieira says Arsenal target is 'better than Tchouameni' with personal terms agreed
Jun 26 2026 19:47 · By Tony Mogan · 39 Reads
Vieira a huge admirer of the France star (Picture: ITV)
Patrick Vieira has lavished praise on Arsenal transfer target Manu Kone, describing him as the ‘best midfielder in France.’
Mikel Arteta is keen to add a midfielder to his squad this summer with Roma star Kone firmly on the club’s radar . The 25-year-old has just finished his second season with the Giallorossi and while Inter Milan are also keen, the Gunners have emerged as front runners.
Reports in Italy suggest Arsenal have already held talks with Kone’s representatives and agreed personal terms over a summer move to north London.
The Premier League champions must now agree a fee with Roma if they decide to move forward with the Serie A side looking for at least €50million (£43m) for the midfielder.
(Picture: Getty)
Kone’s current focus is on the World Cup , starting for France in Friday’s final group match against Norway.
Former Arsenal captain Vieira was on punditry duty for ITV and ahead of kick-off, revealed his huge admiration for the Roma star.
Kone started alongside Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouaméni, wanted by Manchester United this summer , while keeping Adrien Rabiot out of the side.
Kone is firmly on Arsenal’s radar (Picture: FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Marvelling over his skillset, Vieira hailed Kone a better midfielder than both of his countrymen.
‘He has come into the World Cup with a couple of injuries and it has been a quite difficult season for him,’ Vieira told ITV.
‘But he is for me, the best midfielder in France today. I would put him ahead of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot because he has got this mobility to move around the pitch.
Kone started against Norway on Friday (Picture: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
‘He is aggressive, he is a ball winner and he has got this technical ability to be part of the build-up. He can break lines and play forward.’
Kone was asked about the intense speculation over his future ahead of France’s World Cup opener against Senegal and said he was keen to remain ‘exclusively focused’ on his commitments with Les Bleus .
